What is The Treatment? What does it mean to Palmer to receive The Treatment? What does Palmer get after getting through The Treatment?

The Treatment is a series of hits to the upper arm by a boy named Farquar. The hits are very painful and stand as an initiation right: if Palmer can endure the nine blows, he will be initiated into the group and looked up to by the other kids at school. Palmer dreads The Treatment, but also sees it as a means of acceptance. Palmer receives his nickname, given to him by Beans, of Snots.